Courtney Little Axe

Courtney Little Axe is Northern Cheyenne, Absentee Shawnee, and Seminole. She grew up on the Northern Cheyenne reservation and in Little Axe/Tecumseh, Oklahoma. She has an Associate of Science degree in Natural Sciences from Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas and a Records and Information Management Certificate from the National Archives and Records Administration in Kansas City, Missouri. She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and a Forensic Studies Certificate from the University of Montana. During her undergrad, Courtney worked as an intern in the UM Anthropological Curation Facility, where she became familiar with the collection of ancestral belongings housed there. Following her time at UM, she was selected as a Native American fellow for the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts and served as the Exhibitions Research and Publications Fellow. She also assisted with the NAGPRA inventories and research of tribal communities affiliated with cultural materials in their collections. After her fellowship, she worked at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, California as the NAGPRA Assistant and then as the Repatriation Assistant. She came into UM’s new Repatriation Coordinator position with an existing skill set that helped develop methods and protocols to Indigenize the care of Ancestors and their belongings withheld in collections. She has also helped advocate for and establish processes for ethical and respectful tribal consultation in collaboration with various Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, tribal representatives, and elders across the country.

Kelly Dixon

Dr. Kelly J. Dixon has worked in the field of archaeology and heritage management for over 25 years. Since the fall of 2003, Dr. Dixon has worked as an Archaeologist and Professor at the University of Montana’s (UM) Department of Anthropology; she has been assisting with UM’s cultural heritage collections as part of her service duties. Living and working in the North American West for 20 years, Dixon’s body of work underscores the ways in which actions in the American West have connections with—and impacts on—the rest of the world as humans navigate extreme social and environmental changes. Whether drawing lessons from the past to make informed decisions about the present or whether working collaboratively with her colleagues, Dixon believes partnerships with Tribal, Federal, State, and local government agencies, as well as with private businesses, stakeholders, communities, and other universities can help responsibly and respectfully preserve and protect land, heritage, and humanity’s well-being in the 21^st century and beyond.

Lisa Hunt

Lisa Hunt is of Blackfeet descent and is currently a Ph.D. student in cultural anthropology at the University of Montana working on her dissertation titled "Dams, Displaced Tribes, Salvage Archaeology, and Cultural Resource Management in the Missouri River Basin." She has a master's degree in cultural anthropology and a bachelor's degree in Native American Studies. She has worked as a Repatriation Collections Assistant at the University of Montana Anthropological Collections Facility since 2021. 

Nas Jabr

Nas Jabr (he/him/his) is a Palestinian-American graduate of UM and holds a BA in anthropology with an archaeological concentration. He is currently working as a Collections Assistant for the UMACF team and was a student intern in the historical archaeology lab for nearly two years prior.  Nas's interests and focuses include global landback and repatriation practices, global Indigenous theory and methodologies, and museum sciences.

Shalbilyn Tall Whiteman

Shalbilyn Tall Whiteman is a senior at the University of Montana pursuing a degree in communication and human relationships. Growing up on the Blackfeet reservation has deeply influenced she commitment to preserving cultural heritage. As the Collections Assistant for the Office of Anthropological Research, she leverages her organizational skills to contribute to the preservation and study of indigenous artifacts. Her dedication extends to fostering understanding and appreciation for diverse cultures and perspectives, both in her work and academic pursuits. Moving forward, she aspires to continue her journey of learning and advocacy in the field of anthropology, with a specific focus on promoting cross-cultural understanding and reconciliation.